u/LuceatLuna

Inked with Nagasaki Bikei Hirado Cathedral Green.

Left to right:

KIKI Karin burl

Bonaan Keyaki

S20 Brown

Everdraw Cherrywood

Craft A MP201 Marblewood

Craft A MP201 Hawaiian Koa

Everdraw Walnut

Craft A MP201 Purpleheart

S20 Dark Brown

And the newest addition, Craft A MP203 Moon Ebony.

I bought the root beer Eco expecting it to go well with my Japanese wooden pencils, and it did not disappoint! Inked with Sailor Rikyucha, nib size Medium.

(The one in the middle is the KIKI) This is my first Karin Burl pencil and the wood grain is gorgeous! I also like the chrome plated metal fittings.

The pen is very thick(1.5cm) and short(13.9cm), and weighs about 27.5g. The mechanism is same as the Hexagonal, which is interesting 🧐

Left to right:

Pilot S20 Brown
Craft A MP201 Marblewood
Bonaan Pen Keyaki
Craft A MP201 Purpleheart
Pilot S20 Dark Brown
Luddite Everdraw Cherrywood

It fits with the smol size Mono PE-01A erasers. I’ve used the red one for a long while and the sleeve is pretty durable. Pretty solid for both aesthetic purposes and practical use.

I never used to have an interest in handcrafted Japanese wooden writing instruments, but after coming across some Seasar videos and stationery photos on Japanese social media, I was drawn into the beautiful—yet incredibly difficult to acquire—world of Nohara Kogei, Koubou Setu, and Craft A.

As many stationery enthusiasts know, these pieces are notorious for both their high prices and limited availability. On their official websites, items are sold either through a lottery system or on a first-come, first-served basis that typically sells out within minutes.

The mechanical pencil arrives in a minimal black paper box, accompanied by a small vial of maintenance oil and a pamphlet detailing the specific characteristics of the wood.

Design and Build Quality

Visually, some might notice a resemblance to the Luddite Everdraw, with its metal grip, wooden barrel, and chrome finish. However, I find the Craft A grip to be significantly less slippery, which gives it a distinct advantage. Like the Everdraw, the grip section is made of brass, providing a hefty weight and a low center of gravity.

While the MP201 previously utilized the Pentel Stein mechanism and ferrule, Craft A now produces their own independent mechanisms, featuring a brass clutch and a black plastic lead reservoir.

The Writing Experience

What I appreciate most about this mechanical pencil is the absence of wobble. Many handcrafted instruments unfortunately suffer from slight play in their components, but the MP201 has little to no movement in the tip or the knock button. This stability delivers what is easily my favorite writing experience among all the handcrafted models I have tried.

Additionally, its sharp, distinct design stands out beautifully against the more common streamlined shapes of Nohara Kogei and Koubou Setu.

Edit—Added headers for visual clarity

Pentel Smash Diamond Blue,

Pentel Graph 1000 Korea Limited Green-Pink.

Gradation on the Graph looks gorgeous. Also, Ain cases on the right are from failed gacha attempts.